Human Eye Anatomy: Parts of the Eye

By Liz Segre; eye illustration by Stephen Bagi

The human eye has been called the most complex organ in our body. It's amazing that something so small can have so many working parts. But when you consider how difficult the task of providing vision really is, perhaps it's no wonder after all.

(Mouse over the words in the eye anatomy illustration below for their definitions.)

How the Human Eye Works

In a number of ways, the human eye works much like a digital camera:

1. Light is focused primarily by the cornea the clear front surface of the eye, which acts like a camera lens. 2. The iris of the eye functions like the diaphragm of a camera, controlling the amount of light reaching the back of the eye by automatically adjusting the size of the pupil (aperture). 3. The eye's crystalline lens is located directly behind the pupil and further focuses light. Through a process called accommodation, this lens helps the eye automatically focus on near and approaching objects, like an autofocus camera lens.

4. Light focused by the cornea and crystalline lens (and limited by the iris and pupil) then reaches the retina the light-sensitive inner lining of the back of the eye. The retina acts like an electronic image sensor of a digital camera, converting optical images into electronic signals. The optic nerve then transmits these signals to the visual cortex the part of the brain that controls our sense of sight.

Parts of the Eye, as Seen From Above (Please Mouseover the Labels to Learn More)

For more detailed information, please read the article on "Refraction and Refractive Errors: How the Eye Sees." Other parts of the human eye play a supporting role in the main activity of sight:

Some carry fluids (such as tears and blood) to lubricate or nourish the eye. Others are muscles that allow the eye to move. Some parts protect the eye from injury (such as the lids and the epithelium of the cornea). And some are messengers, sending sensory information to the brain (such as the pain-sensing nerves in the cornea and the optic nerve behind the retina).

Anatomy of Attraction: The Science Behind Love at First Sight

February 2013 Ever wonder about the meaning behind the phrase "the look of love"? When you're gazing into your partner's eyes this Valentine's Day, pay some thought to the science behind love at first sight.

The connection between eyes and love is well-documented in poem and prose since time immemorial, the stuff of whimsical fairytales and heroic legends. But while beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, evidence increasingly suggests our brains are hardwired to both display and notice visual "clues" when it comes to a potential love interest.

One such indicator of visual attraction is larger pupils. Studies show that our pupils dilate when we feel excitement and attraction. When our gaze falls on a person or object of interest to us, the brain releases a surge of dopamine (a chemical messenger that helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centers), which triggers pupil dilation. Men perceive women with larger pupils as more romantically appealing. A 2007 study published inHormones and Behavior showed that a woman's pupils dilate the widest during ovulation. From a biological perspective, because this characteristic is developed under the influence of estrogen, it signifies youth and therefore fertility. Research suggests that men instinctively use such indicators, among other visual cues, to assess the "value" of potential partners as a way to seek fertile and healthy mates. Similarly, researchers at Edinburgh University found that women at their monthly fertility peak are most attracted to men with larger pupils. According to the study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, larger pupils signal a man's interest, and therefore he is more indicated as a partner because interest is mutual. Conversely, the study found that when women are not at their most fertile, men's pupil size make very little difference when looking for a mate.

Lingering eye contact also is a strong indicator for a potential love match. A 2009 study published inArchives of Sexual Behavior found that a man who rated a woman as attractive held eye contact for an average of 8.2 seconds, which increased his chances of "love at first sight," researchers said. If a man's gaze was around 4 seconds, the research suggests he was less than impressed. When it comes to eye color and attraction, green eyes are seen as most attractive, according to an AllAboutVision.com eye color poll of more than 46,000 people. But when it comes to matters of the heart, research suggests most people do not have an eye color preference. In fact, it appears "the look of love" is all about the pupils. So this February 14th, look into your Valentine's eyes chances are his or her pupils will be dilated! A.S.

Like This Page? Please Share!

[Page updated February 2013]

For more Eye and Vision Information articles, please visit this section's home page or use the search box below.

Learn howOptometry Giving Sight helps 670 million people to see again

Experiencing pink eye symptoms? What causes eye twitching

RESOURCES - MAIN PAGE About this website

Background & mission Contact us Editorial advisory board News about our company Privacy policy Site map Staff & contributors Terms of use

Checklist for better eye health Donate to sight foundations Eye doctor locators
Eye care practitioners Eye care practitioners who link to us Cataract surgeon directory LASIK surgeon directory

How to choose an eye doctor How to choose a cataract surgeon How to choose a LASIK surgeon News

Q&A Ask the LASIK surgeon Eye doctor Q&A section FAQ about vision & this website Reference Brochures, downloads, apps Eye anatomy / parts of the eye Eye color Glossary of vision terms Human eye color chart Red eyes in photos Smoking - how it harms your vision Smoking & eyes - infographic Videos, animations, slide shows

Learn howOptometry Giving Sight helps 670 million people to see again

Join us:

About AllAboutVision.com | Media Kit | Press Info | Contact Us Find an Eye Doctor | Site Map | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy Cataract Surgeon Directory | LASIK Surgeon Directory

Link Colors: Green = glossary terms, Blue = other pages

All About Vision is a registered service mark of Access Media Group LLC. 2000-2013 Access Media Group LLC.

670 million people worldwide are blind or visually impaired simply because they don't have access to an eye exam and eyeglasses. All About Vision is a Gold National Sponsor of the efforts of Optometry Giving Sight to eliminate avoidable blindness due to uncorrected refractive error. We also encourage our readers to consider supporting these humanitarian eye care organizations.